Regulation of Transition Metal Transport across the Yeast Plasma Membrane

Transition metals are essential for the function of many proteins, either by facilitating redox reactions or by stabilizing protein structure. To satisfy requirements for these metals, cells have numerous mechanisms for the solubilization and uptake of metals from the extracellular environment. Cells must, however, simultaneously protect themselves from the hazards inherent in the versatility of these metals, as the facile redox reactions can produce toxic free radicals if cytosolic metal concentrations are not carefully regulated.